What Is Delisting? What to Do With Your Delisted Coin or Stock
An exchange has announced the delisting of a coin you hold. No need to panic, but don't drag your feet either. Here's why it happens and what your options are.
What it is
Delisting is the removal of an asset from trading on an exchange. After that, you can't buy or sell the asset on that platform. It's the flip side of a listing.
Why it happens
- Low trading volume: hardly anyone trades the coin.
- Project problems: a hack, abandoned development, violations.
- Regulatory requirements.
- For stocks: bankruptcy, a buyout or a merger of the company.
What to do with your coin
| Option | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|
| Sell before the delisting date | Liquidity is already falling |
| Withdraw to a wallet | Check until what date withdrawals are open and on which network |
| Transfer to another exchange | If the coin trades there |
| Do nothing | What happens to leftover balances is stated in the exchange's announcement |
The deadlines are in the official announcement: the date trading stops and the date withdrawals close are listed separately.
Stocks are different: in a company buyout, shareholders usually receive cash or other securities; check the details with your broker (the basics are in the lesson stocks). In crypto, diversification reduces the risk: the coins removed most often are small ones with low volume.
Our partner link. If you decide to open an OKX account, sign up through it: it's free for you and doesn't change your terms. If you trade, the exchange pays Aspiro a referral bonus, which goes toward developing our apps and the free Academy. We have no access to your account, money or trades.
- Delisting is the removal of an asset from trading.
- The deadlines are in the official announcement; trading and withdrawals close on different dates.
- Small coins with low volume are removed most often.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my coins disappear after delisting?
The coins themselves stay on the blockchain, but you won't be able to trade them on that exchange. It's important to withdraw them while withdrawals are still open.
Can trading in a coin resume after delisting?
On that exchange, only if it's added again, which is rare. The coin may keep trading on other platforms.
Why does the price fall after a delisting announcement?
Holders rush to sell, and there are fewer buyers. Liquidity drops, and the price often falls.
Start with free education
A step-by-step OKX guide and free Aspiro Academy courses: 26 lessons on investing and trading from scratch, with practice and a certificate.